Assignment Title: Consultancy Services for Assessment of the Effectiveness of Productivity Improvement Programs in Ghana’s Cocoa Sector

Project Name: Cocoa Sector Institutional Support Project (COSISP)

Client: Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD)

Assignment Duration: Three (3) Calendar Months. Services are expected to commence in August 2025, with the contract period expected to end by 31st December, 2025.

Location: The assignment will be based in Accra, Ghana, with data collection undertaken at the cocoa regions. Work in the expert’s country of residence (“Home” work) is also possible, in addition to “Field” work in the Client’s country. The base location for services is Cocoa House, Accra, Ghana.

Reporting: The Consulting firm, and implicitly the Team Leader, will work under and report to the Project Coordinator (COSISP). They shall also work closely with and be supervised by the Director of the Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) Department of Ghana Cocoa Board.

Role Overview: The Team Leader is identified as a Key Expert, whose skills, qualifications, knowledge, and experience are critical to the performance of the Services under the Contract. The Team Leader will lead the consultant team in evaluating previous and existing productivity improvement programs implemented by COCOBOD. The technical evaluation of the Consultant’s proposal significantly considers the Team Leader’s qualifications and competence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the comprehensive review of cocoa productivity improvement programs implemented by COCOBOD since 2000, outlining their design and implementation approaches.
• Lead the assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of previous and existing programs, including the identification of performance indicators related to impact on productivity, delivery effectiveness, efficiency, and targeting.
• Oversee the construction of these indicators and evaluate the programs based on them, identifying trends and factors influencing the indicators.
• Direct the collection of required information and data.
• Lead the identification and documentation of weaknesses and limitations of these programs, focusing on program designs, implementation, and monitoring.
• Guide the development of new strategies to help improve cocoa productivity in Ghana.
• Work directly with the Client’s departments, including the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) and RM&E Department, and other cocoa industry experts.
• Ensure the timely preparation and submission of all deliverables, including the Inception Report, Review Report, and Evaluation Reports.
• Manage the consultant team, ensuring they carry out the assignment in a professional manner, utilizing qualified and appropriate staff.
• Confirm availability for the entire duration of the assignment or follow approved replacement procedures if circumstances necessitate.
• Ensure the team adheres to the Code of Conduct, including provisions related to Environmental, Social, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), and Sexual Harassment (SH).
• Maintain clear communication with the Client regarding project progress and any required inputs or assistance.
• Ensure all documents, working papers, calculations, and computer data produced during the assignment are handed over to the Client at the end of the contract.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of a MSc./M.Phil. Degree in Agricultural Economics or any other relevant qualification.

Required Experience:

• At least 10 years work experience in assignments of similar nature.
• Experience in conducting studies in the cocoa sector of Ghana.
• Proven track record, including publications, in evaluations/studies in on-farm productivity improvement among smallholder farmers in Africa.

Desired Skills & Attributes:

• Expertise in policy evaluations, socio-economic analysis, and statistical analysis
• Knowledge of conducting surveys at household, community, and national levels
• Experience in agricultural input subsidy systems surveys and evaluations in agriculture or rural development projects is considered an added advantage.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and reporting abilities.
• Professionalism and diligence.
• Ability to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards.

Eligibility:

• Must have the nationality of an eligible country of the African Development Bank in accordance with the Bank’s Procurement Policy.
• Must not be under sanction by the Bank or the Borrower related to fraud or corruption.
• Must not have conflicts of interest that cannot be resolved in a manner acceptable to the Bank.
• Must permit the Bank to inspect accounts, records, and other documents related to the assignment and allow audits.

Application:

Send CV to [email protected] and [email protected]